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Rich & Elaine's Overseas Adventures
Malaysian Borneo
A Malaysian Borneo vacation is an adventure and cultural experience with rare wildlife and plants all packed into a small space on this wonderful tropical island.
We have some helpful ideas of highlights to explore the Malaysian part of the island, which are Sabah, Sarawak and the Malaysian Federal Territory of Labaun Island. Borneo is the third largest Island in the world, often referred to as ‘the land beneath the wind’ as it is situated right on the equator and divided into three countries Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.
A vacation in Borneo is extraordinary as the Jungle contains some of the oldest undisturbed areas of rainforest in the world and some of the most spectacular areas have been incorporated into sixteen National Parks.
The climate is generally hot and wet with some areas receiving 30cm - 40cm of rainfall a year. October to March is the monsoon season. The flora is the most diverse in the world, with over 11,000 species of flowering plants a third of which are indigenous. The forests are lush and dense with over 700 native trees having been recorded.
Sarawak and Sabah are two states of Malaysia on the Island of Borneo and are home to over 26 tribes and races. The people of Borneo are friendly, unpretentious and helpful, have a smattering of English language and are keen to meet vacationers to Borneo. Public Transport is efficient and fun, rental cars are available but need to be returned to the place they are uplifted from.
Borneo is home to the largest cave system, has one of the longest underground rivers in the world, and the highest mountain in South East Asia, Mt Kinabalu 4095m. Small group Eco vocational tours of Borneo are a great way to enhance your Borneo vacation, taking in the many highlights whilst still experiencing the ethnic diversity, wildlife and flora. Rare Proboscis monkeys, macaque monkeys and the Orangutan and are found along with rare pitcher plants, rhododendrons, orchids, colourful birds and reptiles.
Kota Kinabalu is the capital of Sabah and is the home of state government agencies, the city is manageable on foot and is set against a backdrop of lush green tropical hills, and faces the emerald waters of the South China Sea. The markets restaurants, bars and cafes along the waterfront are exciting and fun, they hum and have atmosphere plus, the food is cosmopolitan fresh and delicious. The chilled tiger beer makes up for the not advisable choices in wines.
Kota Kinabalu’s closeness to Mt Kinabalu, Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park and Kudat at the northern tip of Borneo, an 190km drive along palm oil plantations, road side stalls and ‘Long Houses’ is well worth while. Kudat is a sea side village at the northern tip of Borneo, supports many boat people, markets and has a very nice golf resort.
A forty minute flight from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau on the eastern coast of Borneo will top of your Borneo vacation. A two hour drive to Semporna and a 17km boat ride takes you to Sipadan Island which sits on a coal reef and is one of the top ten scuba diving locations in the world, has a rich fish population and large numbers of turtles come ashore to lay their eggs in the sand.
Kuching (City of Cats), the capital of Sarawak is a beautiful city situated on the Kuching River, the waterfront is very desirable and user friendly, the restaurants are fun and a sampan trip over the river to the orchid gardens is a highlight. The well preserved colonial buildings are many and stand proud. This is a fun city. With wide choices of accommodation, ease of wandering around, the proximity to Bako National Park and to the Semengoh Orang-utan Nature reserve makes Kuching a definite stop over for more Borneo adventures.
Rich & Elaine's Home Page ---> <---- Mount Kinabalu, Borneo
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